Vulcanizer for inner tubes



June 25, 1929.

C. B. HUDSON VUPGANIZER FOR INNER TUBES 1927 s Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Dec.23,

A TTL {EVE V5.

June 25., 1929 r c. B. HUDSON l.718. 925 VULCANIZER FdR INNER TUBES. I

Filed Dec. 23, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 0mm 3. 410.90.

I A TTORNE VS.

June 25, 1929. c, B. HUDSON 1.718.925

VULCANIZER FOR INNER TUBES Filed Dec. 23, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 g /0 4if? I [NVENTOR OIHIPIES B. fi l/ S0 11 86 BM AVCTTORNE m.

'canizer for this purpose. i H 1 The objects of the present inventionare to provide a vulcanizer of this type'inwhichthe' mold is divided atits-inner'periphery at some.

Patente dune 25, 1929. f

ITED STATESPATENT OFF-ICE.

GHARLES B. HUDSON, 0F AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AKRON STANDARD MOLDCOMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO. i

'. 'VULCANIZER FOB Innna TUBES.

Applicationfiled December 23, 1927. S rial No. 242,069..

v The present invention relates to an apparatus for the vulcanization ofinner'tubes by the full-molded process, and particularly to theadaptation of the. watch-case type Yuldistance abovethe innercircumference of the tubemold,in which the entire periphery of themold-about the "vulcanizing cavity shall be fully heated 'so as to curethe tube evenly about its entire cross section. It isalso an object ofthe invention to provide a construe tion'in which the inner peripheryofthe tube cavity is enclosed by a ring which is heated by steam fromthe main section of the vul canizer. Other objects are to provide me nsby which the inner ring may be accurately adjusted to reduce the rind oroverflow totaminimum, the adjustment taking up the wear and compensatingfor any variations'or in equalities 1n the mold SBCtlOIlSL,

Aiurther ob'ect' is to'provide a s mple and stem, thereby facilitatingthe rapid placement of the green or unvulcanized tube in thevulcani'zer, andremoval of the vulcanized tube. The other advantages tobe secured by the improved vulcanizer] construction easily operateddevice vfor clamping the valve shown and described herein, will beapparent to thoseskilled in this art. The detailed con struction of thevulcanizer is notessential to the p'ract'ise'of the invention, t beingposs1- ble to incorporate the inventionin difi'erentspecificmodifications within-'tl'ie'scope of the shown in full lines,andaabent valve stein inclaims.

In the drawings in which the bodiment of the invention is'shown,

Figure I is sidewelevation of acomplete vulcanizer of. the usual orstandard watchpreferred emcase type, adapted for the curing of inner-'tubes,- a portion of .the vulcanizer being broken away for the purposeofillustrating the internal construction; Figure 2 is an enlargedsection on the 2-2 of Figure l; p 4 a Fi ure 3 is an enlarged detailedsection on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a'sectionview taken at the valve stem of the tube,'astraight valve stem being line dotted lines, illustrating'theadaptability of the device for both forms of stem;

Figures 9 and of'the vulcanizer.

Many of the'parts shown in the general views of the device are'standardconstruction of Watch-case vulcanizers, and details thereof will not begone: into except in so far as they are necessary to an understanding ofthe invention. 'Itwill'also be. noted, that many fea- 'tures of, thepresent invention are applicable to'other types and'forms of vulcanizersthan the watch-case type shown herein, and are not necessarily limitedto application on that form of vulcanizer alone. i

The watch-case vulcanizerherein shown comprises a central or stationarychambered section 1 which is mounted upon a support 2. The inner chamber3 is for the circulation p 10 are detail viewsof the nipple forconducting steam to theinner ring of steam being enclosed'by removableand replaceable mold plates 5 which form the outer walls of the chamber,and are provided with surfaces"? which form a portion of the cavity.

forthe-vu-lcaifiization of the inner tube 8.

As shown-in the "various views, the section 1 comprises less than halfof the complete ftube molding cavity, the lower or inner portion or.periphery oit' the cavity being com pr sed in a separate ring 10 whichextends beyond the inner circumference of the tube and for a portion of.the opposite side thereof. The plate 5 and the inner ring 10 constituteapproximately. two-thirds of the complete molding cavity, the remainderbeing formed by a separable plate 12 which is reino vably andreplaceably attached to the movable or swinging member 14. The movablemember 14 is also chambered for the circulation of steam.

In vulcanizers of this'type, in which a larger portion of the moldcavity is enclosed mold section has either been cast in one piecechambered throughout, or the portion of the mold constituting the innerring has had no provision for the circulation of the'steam therein. Thelatter expedient makes a cold by one side or member o'fthe mold, thelarger spot or area about the inner circumference of the tube-mold,which is objectionable.

The former expedient gives rise to difficult casting operations, itbeing verydifiicult to properly cast a chambered-mold member of theshape and size desired.

In the present inventionthe inner part is formed as a separate ring ashas been described, which is hollow or chambered throughout. The section5 is recessed as at 16, about its entire periphery and the ring A isseated within the recess, a tight, cylindrical machine fit beingprovided at the division line between the section 5 and the ring 10 asshown at '17. This division line is parallel to the axis of the mold sothat the ring may be adjusted while maintaining a tight fit about theentire periphery of the mold. The ring is secured to the stationarysection 5 by means of bolts-18 which pass through lugs l9 formed in thering 10 and are screwed in'tothe'section 5. In order to-secure accuracyof adjustment and fit about By means of the mounting of the innerring 10an adjustment of thousandths of an inch may be made in the position ofthe ring 10.- In this manner irregularities orslight- 'variations'whichare apt to-occur in the cast- 3 ing or machinery of the mold members may.becompensated, aresult not possible with previous constructions. Thisconstruction also permits the mold to be adjusted to compensate for thewear between the parts, and

the maintenance of tight'joints at-the various lines of parting aboutthemold cavity, particularly at the point 24 and at the parting, 25between the two mold sections at the outer periphery of the tube, sothat excessive overflowor rind is obviated. As the ring.10 is advancedthe slight'projection or ridge obtainedat the point 17 may be rectifi db. filing or abrading over the joint. If desir shims may be placedbetween the contacting surfaces of the ring 10 and the part 5.

4 Steam is admitted to and circulated through the inner ring 10 from thechamber 3 at the points 30. Details at this point are shown-in Figures3, 9 and 10. A hollow nip-- ple 32', having a head 33 thereon, isthreaded into the stationar member 5, a packing 35 being compressed ythe head in contact with the face of the member 5. In order to operatethe nipple, its outer end is formed with a squared socket 36 which maybe engaged by a wrench or tool through an opening 37 in the oppositeside ofthe ring, the'opening being closed by a plug 38v when the artsare in position. The nipple may be tig tencd to make a fluid tightconnection at any position of adjustment of the ring 10.

When the mold sections are closed, they are tightly clamped together byany suitable means, here illustrated as a rotating locking ring 39 aboutthe exterior of the mold unit- The invention shown herein, also includesa clamping device -for holding and clamping the valve stem in position,so that as the tube is placed in the mold, the valve stem may readily besnapped into lace and held in place during the closing 0 the mold andthe curing operation. Heretofore, the valve stem has been insertedthrough a radial 0 )ening in the tube mold. and then clamped y a setscrew or similar device. This takes time and may be neglected oroverlooked by the mold operator. In the present device the valve stemisclamped in position as the tube is placed in the mold. Thisimprovement is I shown in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive.

At the point where the valve stem is located, the inner rin 10 isnotched or cut away to provide a T recess 40 which extends to the centerine of the ring. A block 41 is secured in an arched recess 43 on theunderside of the ring '10, this block being provided with a projection42 which seats in a correspondin recess in the base of the ring, at theinner en of the recess 10, being shaped to fit around one side of thevalve stem and form a seat. The underside of the block is provided witha lateral passageway 44 which permits the passage of the bent valvestem. Two lugs or cars 45 depend from the block and to these lugs areattached leaf springs 46 which are reversely bent as shown in Figure 8to provide curled extensions 47 which normally ,project into the path ofthe straightvalve stem 50. A wedge shaped filler block 52 is secured tothe'movable mold member and fills the cavity 40 when the mold is closed.

The operation of the valve stem holder is quite simple. When the mold isopened the operator passes the valve stem between the spring 46 whichgives sufiiciently to admit it, and closes over the outside and securelyclamps the valve stem 'a ainstthe art 42 of the b ock. The removal ofthe finished tube is correspondingly facilitated.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and improvements maybe made in specific embodiments of the invention, it being the intentionto cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the inventionand the allowed claims.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A tube mold comprised of two sections movable relatively to oneanother, and a ring secured to one of said sections and forming theinner periphery of the tube cavity, said ring being mounted on the saidsection for ared or wedge sha ed.

adjustment in a direction parallel to the ftl'ilF-J of the tube.

2. A tube mold having a tube cavity therein, said cavity being completedby three mold sections two of said sections constituting the outerportion of the periphery of the cavity, and the third the inner portionthereof, the third section being adjustable in the direction of the axisof the tube.

r'l. tube mold composed of two sections,

and a. ring forming the inner periphery thereof, said ring being seatedin a recess about one of the scctions'and adjustable in a directionparallel to the axis of the tube.

A, tube mold composed of two sections, a ring forming the innerperiphery thereof, said ring being seated in a recess about one of thesections and adjustable in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube,andhaving a beveled surface adapted to fit against a correspondinglybeveled surface on the other section.

5. A tube mold composed of two sections, a ring shaped section formingthe inner periphery thereof, the outer surface of said ring shapedsection fitting against a cylindrical wall on one of said sections, andmeans to secure said ring shaped section within the wall and to adjustit in an axial direction therein.

6. A. tube mold composed of two sections, a ring shaped section formingthe inner periphery thereof, the outer surface of said ring shapedsection fitting against a cylindrical wall on one of said sections, andmeans to secure saidring shaped section within the wall and to adjust itin an axial direction therein, said means comprising bolts to secure thering in adjusted position and set screws to move it axially.

7. A tube mold composed of two sections, a ring shaped section formingthe inner periphery thereof, the outer surface of said ring shapedsection fitting against a cylindrical wall on one of said sections,means tosecure said ring shaped. section within the wall and to adjustit in an axial direction therein, all of said sections being chamberedfor the circulation of steam, and an adjustable conduit betweenthe ringand the section on which it is mounted.

8. A tube mold composed of two sections, a ring shaped section formingthe inner periphery thereof, the outer surface of said ring shapedsection fitting against a cylindrical wall on one of said sections,means to secure said ring shaped section within the wall and to adjustit in an axial direction therein, and beveled contacting surfacesbetween the ring and the opposite section,

9. A tube mold comprising a chambered mold section, a chambered ringsupported thereon, means to adjust the ring upon t section, and a hollowthrer t ed nip necting the interior of the ring and tin. tion.

10. A tube mold comprising separabl lions, a passageway for the tubevalve formed in one of said sections, and a spring mounted on one of thesections and adapted to clamp the valve stem in position in thepassageway.

11. A tube mold having a section with a recess therein for theaccon'nnodation of one side of the valve stem, a spring attached at oneend to the section and terminating opposite the passageway so as to bearagainst the opposite side of the valve stem.

12. A tube mold having a section with a recessthcrein for theaccommodation of one side of the valve stem, and spring members attachedto the section and projecting outwardly therefrom, the springs havingoppositely placed terminals adapted to yield to permit the entrance ofthe valve stem.

13. A tube mold having a section with a recess therein for theaccommodation of one side of the valve stem, and spring members attachedto the section and projecting outwardly therefrom, the springs havingoppositely placed curled terminals adapted to yield to permit theentrance of the valve stem.

14. A tube mold having a section with a recess therein for theaccommodation of one side of the valve stem, spring members attaehedtothe section and projecting outwardly therefrom, the springs havingoppositely placed terminals adapted to yield to permit the entrance ofthe valve stem, and a second mold section having a portion adapted toclose the recess.

15. A tube mold comprising a stationary section, a movable section, aring secured to I one of the sections and forming the inner periphery ofthe tube cavity, a recess being formed in the ring, a projection on theo posite section filling the recess when the mo d is closed except for avalve stem passageway, and a yielding spring device at the base of therecess adapted to clamp the valve stem in position.

16. A tube mold comprising a stationary section, a movable section, aring secured to one of the sections and forming the inner periphery ofthe tube cavity, a recess being formed in the ring, a projection on theopp0- site section filling the recess when the mold is closed except fora valve stem passageway, and a yielding spring device at the base of therecess adapted to clamp the valve stem in position independently of theother sec tion.

CHARLES B. HUDSON.

